Diane Higdem: Greetings from Yellowstone!

Meet Diane Higdem, photographer, artist, adventurer, lover of the arts, forever curious and the Queen of Useless Knowledge.

Generation: Though I'm at the tail end of the Baby Boomers, it seems I relate to today's hipsters. I guess I see in them what I once was - that energy and healthy wholesome living that so many of them embrace.

Career and community involvement: In my years at the Coeur d'Alene Chamber, I met so many incredible, amazing and strong people that I certainly know have enriched my life. The best parts are when they invited me to be a part of theirs; whether it be photographing a wedding or family or as photography team captain for IRONMAN (I was the whole team!) and for many local events that include the Festival of Trees Fashion Show, Coeur d'Fondo, Cd'A Triathlon, Ales for the Trails, the Cd'A Arts and Culture Alliance, the CDAEDC and so, so many more. I want to thank them all for entrusting me with their most intimate and public moments! It was a blast, and I couldn't have asked for more; learning so much while hiding in the shadows and snapping pics.

Parental status: Mom of two much loved kids (plus a handful more), their spouses and Namma Toodie to five grandkids!

1. What new and exciting adventures has THE Diane Higdem been up to these days?

Being my father's caregiver for nearly seven years, he passed in late Oct. 2019 and his house sold quickly so I had to vacate quickly. Before his death, and in anticipation that I might need to secure future employment, I had applied to a variety of jobs, including the US Forest Service: Dad had been a financial officer and personnel director in his 30-year stint with the Forest Service and it seemed a natural fit. Then; COVID hit and things got stirred up and a bit nutsy. Where did that land me? Service with a smile as a customer service and cash officer for the Forest Service on the Gardiner Ranger District at the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Mine is a seasonal job: basically, I tell people where to go and get paid for it. When it ends in October, I'll head back to Cd'A to check in on family and friends before heading south. Currently, I live in a bunkhouse perched on a high bank over the Yellowstone River with some really awesome young people. And, as one would think, 'Gee, she's right there at Yellowstone, she can go get photos!' Yes, however; she, due to foot surgery in July, hasn't truly had the opportunity to explore as much as she'd like. Yellowstone has always been a favorite place to photograph nature and hopefully I can do so before I leave. After checking in to Cd'A, I'll head to California to winter with a friend in Santa Maria who suddenly lost her husband last summer and I figured she needed some comic relief. After that? For the moment; who knows? The wild and explorer child in me keeps piquing my interest leading me to enjoy spontaneous adventures such as off to the high Beartooth Mountains, perhaps Teton, climbing LuLu and Daisy Passes, or a fun little side trip to Phillipsburg and exploring abandoned mining camps...

1. How have you been handling the pandemic, quarantine, civil unrest and what's happening in the world right now? It seems so unreal, perhaps because it hasn't personally touched my life just yet. I feel it's such an absolute tragedy that our nation seems to be splitting apart at the seams. While I embrace change and adaptation, I don't appreciate nor understand how we, as an intelligent and civilized nation have been reduced to anger and lashing out. There are very, very complex issues in our world today and I hope that we, as a nation and its people can grow from our mistakes (don't erase history), remember how to love our neighbor and to not forget simple human kindness, the joy of life and embracing individuality.
2. Any awesome photo opportunities lately? Not as much as I'd like to report. After the foot surgery, I've been a bit hobbled up so the best I can do is support my fellow photographers and do just a wee bit of my own. Each morning, I am greeted by the chirrupping of the osprey that hunt the waters of the Yellowstone River across from the bunkhouse. Initially, it was a family unit consisting of the mother and her three offspring (as identified by their orange eyes whereas an adult's are yellow.) Today, there is only one, as the others spread to the winds. I enjoy creeping out to the edge of the bank to photograph her even though I should be getting ready for work. Her? Yes, you see: Female osprey wear a dirty "necklace" whereas males have a clean white breast. She sits quietly and intent, looking for breakfast before furtively swooping in. I'm working on a watercolor of her in her favorite perch. Today, stepping down the back steps of the office, I was startled to find a wonderful little spike bull elk sitting in the grass just yards away and munching. He's got a curious atypical rack growing, so it'll be interesting to see how it develops. The elk cows and their babies enjoy bedding down in front of the bunkhouse so I sometimes have to drive the truck up to the office because they are not threatened by vehicles whereas I am perceived as threat. Lately, the Pinon Jays have been banding together and making quite the ruckus while the magpies have moved into local fruit trees bearing their treasures. Every morning, a bluebird perches on a corner of Roxy (my little handbuilt trailer) and is NOT willing to let me sneak up to take a photo. Today, a yellow warbler was busy snapping up bugs in the Pinon tree and collided with the window outside my desk a few times. Many mornings, I wake up to the elk's bugle - it's kind of an alarm clock, only five minutes earlier than mine. I'm in mountain time and NOT a morning person, yet I find myself running to the back door or window to photograph wildlife in the yard at 6 a.m. It's been such a happy nature experience.

This land is so very different from Coeur d'Alene, where I've lived for the past 34 years; always full of surprises and challenges. The day might be 90 but by 3 p.m., it's 90 and blowing like a banshee yet at 8 p.m... it's quiet as a mouse.

1. What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? Born in Canada (dual citizenship when it was a "thing") and raised primarily in Montana and Idaho. OK- it's not that exciting. My mom and dad lived in a small town in North Dakota near the Canadian border and when it was time for my entrance into the world, they had to retreat to the nearest hospital which happened to be in Manitoba. Namma Toodie? When I was 2, Dad moved the family from that little town in North Dakota to southern Idaho. During the trip, when he had to pull over for the night at some roadside motel, and as I tumbled out of the car, I queried "Isstoossay?" Dad wasn't sure what that meant... Is this the place? or Is this where we are going to stay? It became my nickname because I would crazily giggle when ever he said it. That evolved to Tootsie, then Toots. My first grandbaby couldn't quite wrangle its pronunciation and it spit out as Namma Toodie.

Oh, and I ran away from home to New Mexico (yet another story), ventured to Germany, got lost in the Himalayas, held an injured hummingbird in my hand, skied my brains out, survived my kids as teens, was No. 1 seed player on the tennis team, lost myself in the mountains of Montana on my horse, rock climbed, rafted down some crazy rivers with some amazing people, drove a bright red Volkswagen convertible, enjoyed the creative spirit in soooo many friends, and SO many more adventures with many more to come... OK, I was never in the Himalayas.

1. When life hands you lemons, how do you respond? Lemons? Well, duh... squeeze them over shrimp (or that German beer)! My parents brought me up to appreciate what is here and now, yet to understand the value of next to nothing. Everything has value ('cause, jeez, ya never know) and we need to see and appreciate exactly that. Dad also once said to me, "...There is no perfect line in nature." Basically, he was teaching me the mechanics of 'Where's Waldo' by expressing that, while in the woods, if something doesn't quite look right? It probably isn't. I've been treated to so many treasures when I've looked past the obvious. If there was just some way to put that in a bottle...

The hardest and yet somehow, easiest lesson I've had to learn is to simply let go. Enjoy life while you can. Appreciate the people in your life. Squeeze the grandbabies no matter how old they are and giggle at the littlest things. I know I wasn't put on this earth to pay taxes and die.